[Elmer]

Greetings
I'm looking to purchase the Ultimate Sharpening Machine. Can anyone who own's one give me feedback on how they like it. I like to carve not sitting in front of a stone all day trying to put a edge on my tools. This looks and sounds like it can do the job quick and easy.

[Old_Gord]

Elmer, I've looked at this unit , a little outa my price range , but if you are an expert sharpener now (whatever method you use) and just want to make it faster I guess it might do the trick. If not an expert then I doubt it will speed up your sharpening without a lot of practice which equals time and effort.
One thought , why wouldn't someone make their own , not much too it really , turning the basswood wheels/disks (most likely the hardest part) , 1/4 hp motor, couple of pillow blocks, step pulleys, mandrell, drive belt and wood base.
A handy guy could most likely make something similar for less bucks, but if you can afford it why not buy it.
Just a thought, certainly don't want to talk you out of contributing to the health of a woodcarving supply store business.
OOPS I now realize you are talking about the belt grinder type rather than the "honing wheels " type.
Comments are the same and moreso for the belt type, much cheaper to make your own .
But again if you want to buy it rather than make the effort to make on...it's only money.
.

OG

[MelNM]

Elmer
I have one, I am very pleased with it overall.

There are some things, like sharpening small gouges that are kind of hard to do, but not impossible. The only thing you have to worry about is burning up a tool, it runs about 1400 RPM but you can still get a blade hot. I use the leather belt mainly, I have only used the others one time and that was to get an edge on some really dull tools.

Like Old Gord said you probably could build your own, if you find 1/4 HP motor and rewire it to turn clockwise. I would look for the slowest RPM motor you could find though.

[GaryMc]

Hello Elmer,
I just went to your website! What a wonderfull carver of faces you are. As an aspiring woodspirit carver, my hat is off to you! I loved your work and hope someday I can do any where near as good. You need to post some of your carving to the gallary here!
GaryMc

[KettleKarver]

There was some discussion about this about a year ago. Here's a link to the earlier thread.

http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/forum/t780.html

I wish it would run a bit slower. Without any coolant, its still easy to burn the thin edge of a tool. A delicate touch helps as does a small bucket of water.
Like MelNM, I use the leather stroping belt the most. I still like and use mine. But I also use the scary sharp system for occasional touch-ups.

I also use Flexcut's flex-strop for the inside of gouges. The ultimate sharpener doesn't address inside bevels.

If you're so inclined you could build something as good. It just depends whether you have the time, materials, and tools.

Jim

[decoycarve]

If these take a 1" wide by 30" belt Harbor Freight sells a sander for $39 dollars. I actually use the one I have with 120 grit belt that i load up with beeswax to do a little reshaping and was thinking about trying to find a leather belt for it.
Goody

[Mitchell]

See "Similar Threads" below for more conversation.......

Oh yeah. Forgot to add that I have used this machine and I like it. I also have the components to make my own version (including a DC motor with variable speed) except the wood wheels. The components can be expensive if you have to buy them, so buying this unit is not that bad of an option -> especially when you consider your time to assemble. I like the profiles and find them useful. This system would be a valuable tool for someone that does a lot of carving.

IF you have the components (or most), then it may make more sense to try to make a similar unit.

I do most of my sharpening on a belt sander. I know it's not the best option, but I have good success with it. I also have a leather belt that I use for polishing and very rarely have to regrind or reshape any tools.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

I'm getting the distinct impression that we're talking about two different machines here.

One is essentially a 1" belt sander wired up to run in the reverse direction,

and the other is kind of like a mini lathe with a wooden wheel turned to match tool profiles.

Or am I reading the thread wrong?

[Old_Gord]

I think you are correct Plain_Ol_Ed, I certainly got off on the wrong track originally and maybe I misdirected others, I thought he was talking about the "ultimate power honer" which could be described as you have "like a mini lathe" with wooden turned whhels to match tool profiles" .

BTW the 1" belt type of sharpener/grinder is the simplest to make, there were plans in Chip Chats a few years ago on how to construct this type.
Also if you have a motor say 1/4 hp Lee Valley sells the unit without a motor for $78.50 Canadian..
I did have this unit many years ago when Lee Valley use to sell it with a motor for about $78.00 , guess they realized it was under priced at that with a motor..
I found it had some limitations as you only have a short distance on the belt that was usable for grinding i.e it's difficult to sharpen anything perpendicular to the belt of any length, you generally have to sharpen at 90 degrees to the belt. Now that may not be a problem for some people it was for me so I gave the unit away and made my own 1" belt grinder using 1" x 42" belts.
Just my opinion, as I also say, if you want to spend the money do so.smile
.

OG

Originally Posted by Plain_Ol_Ed

I'm getting the distinct impression that we're talking about two different machines here.

One is essentially a 1" belt sander wired up to run in the reverse direction,

and the other is kind of like a mini lathe with a wooden wheel turned to match tool profiles.

Or am I reading the thread wrong?

[Bandaid]

Goody...re: your belt sander. I'm curious about your use of beeswax as a dressing on the belts for sharpening. Does it aid in cooling or is it more of a lubricant?

Reg